Former Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier leaves Winter Park after being fired by the Wilfs Monday morning at the team’s training facility in Eden Prairie on Monday, December 30, 2013. (Pioneer Press: John Doman)

At least Leslie Frazier’s Vikings tenure ended with two days of applause.

The first round came following Minnesota’s 14-13 victory over Detroit in Sunday’s final game at the Metrodome. The second came Monday after he addressed the team following his firing as coach.

“When he was done, somebody started clapping, and then we all started doing it,” guard Brandon Fusco said. “Everybody was clapping.”

Frazier won’t be remembered as one of the best coaches in Vikings history, but he was one of the most liked. Star running back Adrian Peterson had been urging ownership to keep Frazier around.

Many Vikings players lamented his dismissal. Team owner Zygi Wilf talked about how difficult to was to let Frazier go after 3-1/2 seasons.

“This was an emotional day and an extremely difficult decision,” Wilf said. “He’s a true professional and a very giving person. We have great appreciation for Leslie’s efforts, but we believe a change was needed to build a successful team moving forward.”

General manager Rick Spielman said he talked to Frazier on Monday morning and that Frazier also met with Wilf and his brother, fellow owner Mark Wilf. He said Frazier was “very disappointed” when told of his ouster.

Frazier had been on the clock since steering Minnesota to a 10-6 record and a playoff berth in 2012. Instead of giving him an extension, the Vikings merely picked up his contract option for 2013.

And then Frazier’s team regressed in 2013. The Vikings went 5-10-1 to drop his record to 21-32-1 since taking over for Brad Childress midway through the 2010 season.

“We have the utmost respect for Leslie and what he’s brought to this organization, but we have to look for consistency year in and year out,” said general manager Rick Spielman. “Our road record has not been the best. The way we’ve lost some games this year, as well.”

Frazier’s road record was 7-19-1, including 0-7-1 this season. The Vikings lost four games on touchdown passes in the final minute and also blew a 16-point fourth-quarter lead in a tie at Green Bay.

The Vikings were plagued all season by difficulties at quarterback, with Christian Ponder starting nine games, Matt Cassel six and Josh Freeman one. Cassel provided some stability in starting the final four games, but it was too late then to save the season.

“I didn’t play well enough to keep the job and for us to win as many games as we should have,” Ponder said. “So it stinks knowing that was a contribution to what happened.”

Spielman said he takes full responsibility for all personnel moves, including the Oct. 7 signing Freeman, who played in just one game and never was seen again after completing just 20 of 53 passes in an Oct. 21 road loss to a New York Giants team that entered the game 0-6. But Spielman said it was always Frazier’s decision who started at quarterback.

There has been uncertainty about Spielman’s job status. But he said he will head the coaching search, and his charge will be look for someone to bring consistency to the Vikings, who have made the playoffs in just one of the past four seasons.

“I think this is a very attractive job,” Spielman said. “I think when you talk to people on the outside, that the young talent that we do have on this roster, with all the new coming in, the new stadium and potential facilities online coming in, I don’t think we’re in a total rebuilding mode.”

With the Metrodome closing, the Vikings will move into a new indoor stadium in 2016. They will play the next two seasons outdoors at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium.

Spielman said he hopes to have a coach in place by the Jan. 25 Senior Bowl. He said he has 13 points of emphasis for choosing the next coach, but wouldn’t be specific. He said previous head-coaching experience is not required.

Some of the candidates the Vikings will evaluate include offensive coordinators Adam Gase of Denver, Jay Gruden of Cincinnati, Pat Shurmur of Philadelphia and Mike Sherman of Miami, and defensive coordinators Jack Del Rio of Denver and Sean McDermott of Carolina. Del Rio, a former Vikings linebacker, and Sherman both have been NFL head coaches, and have career winning records.

After all, what it came down to for Frazier was his record. The Vikings did go 4-3-1 in the second half of this season, but a 1-7 start was too much to overcome.

“I think probably it’s all about wins,” defensive end Jared Allen said. “We didn’t win games when they counted. … It’s a fine margin between success and failure, and we ended up the failure side of it.”

After the news was delivered to Frazier about his job early Monday morning, he met with his players at 9 a.m for about 20 minutes. The players also heard from Zygi Wilf and Spielman.

“It was hard to fight back the emotions when (Frazier) came in and talked to us,” cornerback Chris Cook said. “I wish him the best of luck. He’s a great coach, and I know he’ll get another opportunity somewhere else to show what he can do.”

Frazier could not be reached for comment. Several players said they plan to keep in touch with him.

“It’s hard for me as a rookie coming in and coach gets fired,” said wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson. “He’s like a father. He’ll sit down and talk with you about your problems and off-the-field issues. … He just told us if we need anything, just call him. We all still have his number, and I’m going to do that in the offseason. I’m going to give him a call every chance I get.”

Frazier was one of four NFL coaches fired on “Black Monday.” There are now six jobs open, counting Houston having ousted Gary Kubiak earlier this month.

“It’s a harsh business,” safety Harrison Smith said. “As a player, we all love coach Frazier, as a coach, as a man. … We didn’t make enough plays on the field. So you just feel like you let him down a little bit. At the same time, it’s part of the business, part of the game now.”

Chris joined the Pioneer Press in 2013 to cover the Vikings. He was a longtime NBA writer with the Akron Beacon Journal, Rocky Mountain News and AOL FanHouse. Before coming to Minnesota, he covered the Miami Heat and Dolphins for Fox Sports. Chris has won four awards in the past three Pro Football Writers of America contests. Chris is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he spent his college years watching the losingest team in the history of Division I-A football.

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